Protective device, fan and method for manufacturing a protective device

Abstract

The invention relates to a protection device (10) for preventing contact, having a grid structure (20) and a fastening device (30) for fastening the grid structure (20) at an air inlet and / or air outlet, wherein the grid structure (20) comprises a protection strut (21) and at least one holding strut (22) which is connected to the protection strut (21) at at least two locations, wherein the protection strut (21) is designed in a spiral shape in order to shield the air inlet and / or air outlet.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a protective device, a fan having such a protective device, and a method for manufacturing such a protective device.

[0002] Protective devices are commonly used to protect personnel or objects from injury caused by the rotating impeller of a fan. For this purpose, protective devices are typically installed at the fan's inlet and / or outlet to block the airflow and / or outlet, thereby preventing entry or contact with the fan impeller located therein. Such protective devices may also be called fan grilles, ventilation grilles, or protective grilles.

[0003] To shield the air inlet and / or outlet, a grid structure is used. On the one hand, the grid structure must generate as little resistance as possible to the airflow entering and / or leaving the outlet; on the other hand, it must have sufficient density and stability to ensure protective effectiveness. To ensure this, such a grid structure is typically formed from a large number of individual grid elements, such as those arranged concentrically in a circular pattern or in a linear, mesh-like arrangement. The manufacturing and material costs of this protective device are very high.

[0004] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a protective device that reduces processing and material costs. Another object of the present invention is to provide a fan having such a protective device.

[0005] According to the invention, this objective is achieved by the protective device according to claim 1. In terms of the wind turbine, this objective is achieved by the subject matter of claim 6, and in terms of the method, this objective is achieved by the subject matter of claim 7.

[0006] Specifically, according to the invention, this objective is achieved by a protective device for preventing contact, particularly for a fan, having a grid structure and a fastening device for securing the grid structure to the air inlet and / or outlet, particularly the air inlet and / or outlet of the fan. The grid structure includes protective supports and at least one retaining support connected to the protective supports at at least two locations, wherein the protective supports are designed in a spiral shape to block the air inlet and / or outlet.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention is based on the concept of providing a protective device with a grid structure, which is designed such that a single grid element, i.e., a protective support strip, is sufficient to block the air inlet and / or outlet. For this purpose, the protective support strip has a helical shape, particularly a planar and / or circular helical shape. Here, the helix is ​​configured such that the protective support strip blocks the air inlet and / or outlet in the installed state. In other words, in the installed state, the protective support strip extends above the air inlet and / or outlet, such that the grid structure, on the one hand, generates minimal resistance to the airflow entering the air inlet and / or leaving the outlet, and on the other hand, has a sufficiently high density for effective protection, i.e., a sufficiently small through-hole.

[0008] In this way, the number of components in the protective device is significantly reduced. Consequently, fewer manufacturing steps are required, such as those for connecting components, thus reducing manufacturing costs. Furthermore, the reduction in the number of components eliminates the need for additional connectors, such as welds, thereby reducing material costs and consequently reducing the weight of the protective device.

[0009] To ensure high stability, in addition to the protective struts, the grid structure also has at least one retaining strut. The retaining strut stabilizes the protective strut by connecting to it at at least two locations, thereby stabilizing the protective device.

[0010] The protective device according to the invention is designed for all types of contact protection. Specifically, the protective device is used to protect the impeller of a fan (e.g., a filter fan for ventilating electrical components). The protective device can also be used to protect other components of the fan, or to protect other parts of the fan. The concept according to the invention can also generally be combined with the covering of components.

[0011] Preferred embodiments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0012] Advantageously, the protective struts comprise at least three spiral turns, which are evenly spaced radially. This increases the density of the grid structure, thereby further enhancing the protective effect of the device. The evenly spaced spiral turns also ensure that the airflow passing through the grid structure during operation is evenly distributed across the entire surface of the grid structure, thus reducing airflow resistance.

[0013] The protective support bar preferably has 3 to 12 spiral turns, particularly 5 to 10 spiral turns, and particularly preferably 7.5 spiral turns.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the retaining strut has at least two radial legs, each radial leg being connected to all the spiral turns of the helical protective strut. This ensures that each complete spiral turn of the protective strut is connected to the retaining strut at two locations, thereby further enhancing the stability of the grid structure.

[0015] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective device has two retaining struts, wherein every two adjacent struts form a right angle. Therefore, the protective device has four struts, such that each full turn of the protective strut connects to the retaining strut at four locations, thereby further enhancing stability. Due to the equidistant arrangement of the struts, they are evenly distributed on the circumference of each full turn of the protective strut, further improving the stability of the retaining strut.

[0016] Advantageously, the fastening device has at least two fasteners, each formed at the end of the retaining strut, particularly at the end of the leg. With at least two fasteners, the grid structure can be more reliably secured to the air inlet and / or outlet. Furthermore, since the fasteners are formed at the ends of the retaining struts, additional connecting parts for connecting the fasteners to the grid structure can be eliminated. This further reduces the number of components in the protective device, thereby lowering manufacturing and material costs.

[0017] Furthermore, within the scope of this invention, a fan having at least one of the aforementioned protective devices is provided.

[0018] Regarding the effects and advantages of the fan according to the invention, please refer to the statements related to the protection device. Therefore, the protection device can be disclosed and claimed for protection as a component of the fan, or it can be disclosed and claimed for protection independently of the fan.

[0019] Another parallel aspect of the invention relates to a method for manufacturing the aforementioned protective device, wherein the protective struts are manufactured by stamping and / or bending, particularly without joints.

[0020] Because the protective struts are designed in a spiral shape, stamping and / or bending processes are largely sufficient to manufacture them, eliminating the need for joining processes such as welding. This significantly reduces the manufacturing and material costs of the protective device. Material costs can be reduced by approximately one-third.

[0021] During manufacturing, wires or strips can be shaped into spiral protective supports, for example. Other raw materials are also possible.

[0022] Stamping and / or bending can be performed using specific stamping and bending equipment (e.g., an automatic stamping and bending machine). Stamping and / or bending can also be performed in other ways, such as manually.

[0023] For the appearance features of protective devices that are not entirely determined by their technical functions, design freedom can be enjoyed based on aesthetic design, provided that the technical effect can be achieved.

[0024] The present invention will now be described in more detail based on embodiments and with reference to the accompanying schematic diagrams. Wherein: Figure 1 A front view of a protective device according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown; and Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 Side view of the protective device.

[0025] Figure 1 A front view of a protective device 10 for preventing contact (not shown) according to an embodiment of the present invention is shown. The protective device 10 has a front side 11 and a back side 12, wherein... Figure 1 The front side is shown as 11.

[0026] The protective device 10 has a grid structure 20 and a fastening device 30, which secures the grid structure 20 to the air inlet and / or outlet, particularly the air inlet and / or outlet of a fan. In the installed state, the back faces the air inlet and / or outlet. Therefore, in the installed state, the air inlet and / or outlet are located... Figure 1 Behind the protective device 10 (specifically, the grid structure 20) shown.

[0027] The grid structure 20 includes a protective support bar 21 designed in a spiral shape. Here, the spiral shape is designed such that the protective support bar 21, in the installed state, blocks the air inlet and / or outlet. Therefore, the size of the protective device 10, particularly the protective support bar 21, is adapted to the size of the air inlet and / or outlet, especially the air inlet and / or outlet of the fan.

[0028] The protective support bar 21 is formed from a single component, particularly a single wire.

[0029] The grid structure 20 includes at least one retaining strut 22. Specifically, the grid structure includes two retaining struts 22. The retaining strut 22 is formed from a single component, particularly a single wire.

[0030] The retaining support 22 is connected to the protective support 21 at at least two locations. Specifically, the protective support 21 and the retaining support 22 are welded together at at least two locations. The protective support 21 and the retaining support 22 can also be connected in other ways, such as by bonding or threading.

[0031] The protective support bar 21 includes 7.5 spiral turns 23. The protective support bar 21 may also have more or fewer spiral turns.

[0032] The spiral turns 23 are evenly spaced radially. In other words, the radial distance between two adjacent spiral turns is always substantially the same. The spiral turns 23 are substantially circular, i.e., without sharp corners, bends, or edges, and are arranged substantially in a plane. Therefore, the protective strut 21 has a uniform, circular, and flat spiral shape.

[0033] The protective support 21 can also have other shapes. Therefore, the protective support 21 can, for example, have an elliptical helix or a polygonal helix. The protective support 21 can also have a three-dimensional helix shape, such as a spiral or a threaded helix. The radial spacing between two adjacent spiral turns can be different.

[0034] Each retaining strut 22 has two radial legs 24. The legs 24 extend radially outward from the helical center 25 along the protective strut 21. Here, every two adjacent legs 24 form a right angle. Therefore, the four legs 24 form an X-shape or cross shape, which is centrally arranged relative to the helical protective strut 21. Here, the legs 24 are connected to all the helical turns 23 of the protective strut 21.

[0035] Each retaining strut 22 includes an arcuate section 28 formed between the legs 24, and the legs 24 are connected in such a manner that the arcuate sections 28 transition substantially tangentially into the legs 24.

[0036] The fastening device 30 has four fasteners 31. Each fastener 31 forms a collar through which a mating fastener (e.g., a screw) can pass to secure the protective device 10. The fasteners 31 may also form hooks for engaging with their corresponding mating fasteners. The fasteners 31 may be designed in other forms.

[0037] Fasteners 31 are formed at the ends of the retaining struts 22, specifically at the outer ends of the legs 24. For this purpose, the legs 24 are bent into collars at their ends, i.e., bent into fasteners 31. Here, the fasteners 31 are substantially without sharp edges, bends, or corners, and transition substantially tangentially into the legs 24. The fasteners 31 are arranged radially outward relative to the protective struts 21, specifically the outermost spiral turns 23 of the protective struts 21.

[0038] Each of the two fasteners 31 and the retaining support 22 is formed from a single component, particularly a single wire, and is substantially free of sharp edges, bends, or corners. Therefore, the protective device 10 mainly comprises three components: the protective support 21 and two retaining supports 22, with two fasteners 31 formed at the ends of each retaining support 22. The protective device 10 may also comprise fewer or more components. In particular, the protective support 21 and the retaining support 22 may be formed from a single component, particularly a wire.

[0039] Protective support 21 is located at the rear 12. Therefore, in the installed state, protective support 21 is located between the air inlet and / or air outlet and the retaining support 22.

[0040] Figure 2 It shows Figure 1 A side view of the protective device 10. Fasteners 31 formed at the ends of the legs 24 are arranged on the back 12 at a certain distance from the protective support bar 21. Therefore, the fasteners 31 are offset from the back 12, so that the grid structure 20 can be fastened to the air inlet and / or air outlet at a certain distance.

[0041] The retaining strut 22, specifically the support leg 24, each has an inner section 26 arranged on the front side 11. A step 27 is formed at the end of each inner section 26, which connects the fastener 31 arranged on the back side 12 to the inner section 26 of the support leg 24 on the front side 11. The step 27 is radially arranged outward relative to the protective strut 21, specifically the outermost spiral coil 23 of the protective strut 21.

[0042] Here it can be clearly seen that the retaining struts 22 (which each include two legs 24, each having an internal section 26 and a step 27) and fasteners 31 are formed from a single component, in particular a single wire, and are essentially free of sharp edges, bends or corners.

[0043] Furthermore, it is clearly visible that the protective support 21 and the retaining support 22 with fasteners 30 each have a substantially circular cross-section. Specifically, the protective support 21 and the retaining support 22 with fasteners 30 are each formed from a single wire.

[0044] The protective device 10, especially in terms of aesthetic design, can be combined with Figure 1 and Figure 2 The illustrations may differ, as long as the technical effect is achieved. Therefore, for example, the diameter of the opening in the middle of the protective device 10, and especially the diameter of the innermost spiral coil 23 of the protective support bar 21, can be larger or smaller than... Figure 1 The dimensions within the structure. The radial spacing between two adjacent spiral turns 23 of the protective support bar 21 can, for example, be greater than or less than... Figure 1 The dimensions within the middle. The step portion 27 of the retaining strut 22 can also be designed to be larger than... Figure 2 The dimensions of the grid structure 20 are longer or shorter, allowing it to be fastened to the air inlet and / or outlet, especially the fan, at smaller or larger spacing.

[0045] Reference tag list 10. Protective devices 11 Front 12 Back 20. Grid structure 21 Protective support strips 22. Maintain the support strip. 23 spiral turns 24 legs 25 Spiral Center 26 Internal Sections 27 Steps 28. Arc-shaped section 30 Fastening device 31 Fasteners.

Claims

1. A protective device (10) for preventing contact, the protective device having a grid structure (20) and a fastening device (30) for fastening the grid structure (20) to an air inlet and / or an air outlet, wherein, The grid structure (20) includes a protective support (21) and at least one retaining support (22), the retaining support (22) being connected to the protective support (21) at at least two locations, wherein the protective support (21) is designed to be spiral-shaped to block the air inlet and / or air outlet.

2. The protection device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protective support bar (21) includes at least three spiral turns (23) that are evenly spaced apart in the radial direction.

3. The protection device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The retaining support bar (22) has at least two radial legs (24), which are respectively connected to all the spiral turns (23) of the protective support bar (21).

4. The protection device (10) according to claim 3, characterized in that... Two retaining struts (22) are provided, wherein every two adjacent legs (24) form a right angle.

5. The protective device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The fastening device (30) has at least two fasteners (31), which are respectively formed at the ends of the retaining support (22).

6. A fan having a protection device (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. A method for manufacturing a protective device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein, The protective support strip (21) is manufactured by stamping and / or bending.

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